Unable to correct setup after string change.

Altemo · #1 07-21-2010, 04:23 AM

Went from DR Black Beauties to DR Low Riders on my Schecter Elite 4 and now I am unable to get my setup back to normal (low enough for comfortable tapping, with no buzz).

I've followed all the manuals in the sticky, but am unable to get rid of buzz in the 3-4 frets without resorting to unacceptably high action with the saddles, or truss rod loosening to the point of buzzing on the highest frets...

This is just from a change of strings! Same gauge, Same brand. These strings are just stiffer, and otherwise, pretty awesome.

a) is this common
b) Any other tips/courses of action? Or should I just give up and take it in to the shop?
Ultimately, my tinkering is probably making things worse.

atheos · #2 07-21-2010, 04:41 AM

If nothing else, you can take your bass to a luthier for fret leveling or at least set up professionally. I recall Low Riders having more mass than Black Beauties so they're not identical and may indeed need a full setup. There will be a difference in playability every time you switch to anything but 100% identical strings.

I assume you've don the setup in correct order. If not, do.
1) Adjust truss rod (no more than 1/2 - 1 turn), tune and wait for 24h, repeat if necessary.
2) Adjust action.
3) Adjust intonation.

Also, if the buzz is in the first frets, you might need to replace the nut. But if there was no issue with previous strings, I think it's just a setup issue.

clong89 · #3 07-21-2010, 04:49 AM

Strings will stretch out a little over time. The Buzz might have been there all along and the newstrings bring it out more. Just a thought...

FunkMetalBass · #4 07-21-2010, 07:38 AM

Loosening your truss rod should not cause any buzzing in the higher frets. Just the opposite, in fact.

If there's buzzing in the first 5 frets, your truss rod needs to be loosened. Press down at the first fret and the last fret and look at your fretboard. You should see a very small gap between the string and fret around the 7th fret. If you don't, the truss rod might need to be loosened just a hair more.

Altemo · #5 07-21-2010, 03:22 PM

@ FunkMetal Bass, I did follow the setup guides in the sticky... I've got the gap at 7th, And all my reading has told me that having too much relief will cause buzz in the highest register.

Thanks for your replies everyone, I'll just bite the bullet and get it looked at professionally.

JLS · #6 07-21-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altemo

@ FunkMetal Bass, I did follow the setup guides in the sticky... I've got the gap at 7th, And all my reading has told me that having too much relief will cause buzz in the highest register.

Thanks for your replies everyone, I'll just bite the bullet and get it looked at professionally.

You might try loosening the trussrod a little more, before you take it in. We're not talking, "too much relief", here.

JLS · #7 07-21-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altemo

@ FunkMetal Bass, I did follow the setup guides in the sticky... I've got the gap at 7th, And all my reading has told me that having too much relief will cause buzz in the highest register.

Thanks for your replies everyone, I'll just bite the bullet and get it looked at professionally.

You might try loosening the trussrod a little more, before you take it in to someone. We're not talking, "too much relief", here, just a little bit more.